Pocket sputum-cup.



J. A. BROOKE.

POCKET SPUTUM CUP.

APPLICATION FILED 31111.22, 1010.

Patented July 26, 1910.

l/911m mom n: NORRIS PETERS ca, wAsHlNcmu, n. c,

JOHN ALFRED BROOKE, 0F W'ILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

POCKET SPU'IUM-GUP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 26, 1910.

Application filed January 22, 1910. Serial No. 539,572.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ALFRED BROOKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at l/Vilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPocket Sputum-Cups, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in pocket cuspidors or sputum cups.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of devices ofthis character and thereby render them less liable to leak, theinvention residing in the peculiar construction and arrangement of theinner looking flap and the outer overlapping cover flap, as hereinafterfully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which Figure l is a view of the blank from which the case ofmy improved sputum cup is formed; Fig. 2 is a pers ective view of thedevice showing it in c osed position; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionalview; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view; and Fig. 5 is adiagrammatic View illustrating the manner in which the blank is folded.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 denotes the blank fromwhich the casing of my improved pocket cuspidor or sputum cup is formed,the blank being composed of water-proof paper or similar material andhvaing substantially rectangular shape. This blank is adapted to becreased and folded along the dotted lines indicated in Fig. l of thedrawing to form a casing which is substantially wedge shaped and whichhas a rectangular bottom 2, square or rectangular sides 3, triangularends 4-, angular corner folds composed of triangular shaped parts 5, 6,a rectangular top 7, a short outer flap 8, and a long notched inner flap9. The top 7 is formed at the upper edge of one of the sides 3, and theouter closing flap 8 is disposed at the top 7. This outer closing flap 8is adapted to be folded down on the outside of the device, as shown infull lines in Fig. 2. The long inner flap or tongue 9 is formed at theouter edge of one of the parts 5 and adjacent the flap or tongue 8; andit has rounded outer corners 11 and a substantially V-shaped notch 12formed centrally in its outer edge to form in conjunction with therounded corners 11 two tapered portions or tongues 13.

has been thus folded an absorbent material 14 such as cotton is placedon the bottom 2 within the casing and the long inner flap 9 is thenfolded to the position shown in Fig. 3, the latter being readilyeffected by springing together the tongue portions 13 of said flap andinserting them in the space formed between the inner face of one of thesides 3 and the opposing inward fold. The notching of the flap 9 to formthe tongues 13 not only permits of the ready insertion of said flap, butalso permits of the disposition of the absorbent material M- in theoutermost pocket of the casing as well as beneath all of the inwardfolds formed by the parts 5, 6.

A further or more important function of the flap 9 is to lock the blankin folded position and to thereby form in the upper portion of the caseor body two openings at, b, i

into either of which the sputum may be dropped. It will be noted thatwhen the locking flap 9 is in its effective or looking position it willentirely cover the spaces between the upper edges of the end foldsformed by the parts 5, 6, and thereby effectively prevent leakage. henthe device is not in use the outer overlapping flap 8 is arranged asshown in Fig. 2, but when it is desired to use the device its two endsare pressed inwardly between the fingers so that the flap 8 will swingupwardly and the two sides 3 will bow upwardly, as shown in Fig. 4 toopen the pockets or chambers a, b.

In practice I have found. that a pocket sputum cup or cuspidorconstructed as here inafter set forth will not gap open when carried inthe pocket and cause the cup to leak and permit of the spread ofdiseaseladen sputum to the clothing and hands of the user. The peculiarconstruction and arrangement of the flap 9 causes the device to beefiectively locked in its folded position without the use of clips orother extraneous fastening means, and the use of the second or outeroverlapping flap 8 further insures the effective closure of the'devicewhen it is not in use and carried in the pocket. lVhile the presentdevice is particularly adapted as a pocket cuspidor, it may be used forother purposes and made in different sizes.

It will also be understood that if desired the blanks may beconveniently packed in nests and shipped at small expense toinstitutions Where they may be folded by the patients as required.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1.'A device ofthe character described comprising a receptacle formedfrom a piece of material of vsubstantially rectangular shape, said piecebeing folded to provide a wedge shaped body having a bottom, a top,sides, ends, interlocking angular end folds, an outer overhanging flapon the top, an inner locking flap on one of the end folds adjacent thefirst mentioned flap, said second mentioned flap having a central notchto provide tongues, said second flap being adapted to fold over the endfolds to retain the blank in folded position, and said first mentionedflap being adapted to fold against the outside of the body.

2. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle having abody tapered upwardly toward its mouth, end folds at the ends of thebody and betweenits oppositesid'es, an inner locking flap 'on one of theend folds and adapted to extend over said end folds to retain them infolded position, an outer closing flap onone side of the receptacle andadapted to fold over the first mentioned flap, and absorbent materialwithin the body beneath the end folds, said inner locking flap beinglong and having a central notch for the reception of said absorbentmaterial.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. JOHN ALFRED BROOKE. WVitnesses:

F. W. DENNISTON, E. H. READ.

